| 2020 Gun Owners of Vermont Candidate Report |
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| DICK SEARS |
| 2nd Amendment Stance: PRO 2A |
District: Bennington Senate
(Vote up to 2) |
| Contest: STATE SENATOR (incumbent) |
| Party: DEMOCRATIC |
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State Web Page 2018:
State Web Page 2018: |
State Web Page 2016:
State Web Page 2016: |
State Web Page 2014:
State Web Page 2014: |
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Additional Comments: 2016: Dick does NOT support Universal Background Checks.
2015: Dick Sears worked hard to make sure Gun Owners of Vermont were allowed to testify in committee, and worked with us to remove as many unconstitutional aspects as possible before S.141 was passed by the Supermajority.
Dick got the GunSense lobbyist to admit that Ann Braden was NOT calling the shots during the S.141 hearings!
Dick also proposed a PRO-GUN bill, S.199, to PROTECT Vermonter's rights as a "renter" when their landlord violates a renter's Constitutional Rights to keep and bear arms on a property they RENT!
The anti-gun legislation was in the previous 2013-14 session. In 2013, he sponsored S.94 (Similar law passed with 2015's S.141)
Sponsored S.277.
Pushed to get H.735 passed in 2014 even though he voiced opinions to the unconstitutionality and the deceptive method of 'hiding' it in a fee bill in the newspapers. Dick has had a history of standing with Vermonter's rights, but the H.735 bill was so unconstitutional, that it was the driving force behind the poor rating in 2014.
We hope to continue working with Senator Sears in the future, as he really DOES listen to us!
2018 won write-in on REPUBLICAN ticket.
S55 was a pro-gun bill by Senator Sears that the Democratic Party majority hijacked to pass gun control for Phil Scott!
2020: Voted FOR S.169 (bad). |
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Mailing Address:
343 MATTESON ROAD
NORTH BENNINGTON, VA 05257
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2018 Gun Bills: |
Voted FOR H.422 (BAD). Unanimous vote in both House and Senate.
Bill #1 |
Voted AGAINST S.55 (GOOD)
Bill #2 |
Voted FOR S.221 . Unanimous vote in both House and Senate.
Bill #3 |
VT Digger Wrap-Up Gun Control
S.55, H.221 & H.422
Bill #4 |
2016 Gun Bills: |
(2015) Voted FOR S.141 (Act 14) Gun Control Bill (BAD)
Bill #5 |
2015 Gun Owners of Vermont Analysis: Universal Background Check Legislation
Detail of S.141 Votes & GunSense Money
Bill #6 |
2014 Gun Bills: |
2013-14: Sponsored S.0094 (BAD): An act relating to reporting dangerous and mentally ill persons to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
Senate version of H.467: Mandates the State notify the National Instant Criminal Background Check System when a person is treated for mental illness, whether hospitalized or not hospitalized, so that the person will now appear as a "Prohibited Person" (ie. felon) and will be forever barred the possession of firearms.
There is currently, no way out of the NICS even if the person is no longer a threat, or found not to be mentally ill.
There is NO provision to EVER remove this prohibition!
This type of law is CONTINUOUSLY updated with new restrictions and clauses.
Bill #7 |
Sponsored S.277 (BAD): This bill proposes... to establish procedures for the storage of firearms surrendered pursuant to a relief from abuse order (see H.735).
Bill #8 |
10/10/2016: Dick Sears Speaks about firearms in Vermont on "Bennington Unwrapped" TV show.
Dick does NOT support Universal Background Checks, but gives Gun Owners of Vermont a dig on our analysis of the last minute amendment of the "Victim Protection" bill H533 with another bill, H512, that created an ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATION ADVISORY BOARD (which in its ORIGINAL form was acceptable) but when amended to the Victim Protection bill, altered the old bill to REMOVE the actual animal "humane officer" and REMOVE 2 Law Enforcement Officers, and to INCLUDE a member ... to represent the interests of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns ; AND ADD two members ... to represent the interests of organizations dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals .
THIS WAS what we objected to. Not the ORIGINAL bill, but the modified Animal Cruelty bill that took power away from the actual people charged with protecting animals, and give it to organizations that are all notoriously anti-gun and anti-hunting!
A more complete analysis is below:
H-0512 Senate Proposal of Amendment Official.pdf
(1) the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee;
(2) the Executive Director of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs or designee;
(3) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee;
(4) the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife or designee;
(5) two members to represent the interests of organizations dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals;
(6) three members to represent the interests of law enforcement;
(7) a member to represent the interests of humane officers working with companion animals;
(8) a member to represent the interests of humane officers working with large animals (livestock);
(9) a member to represent the interests of dog breeders and associated groups;
(10) a member to represent the interests of veterinarians;
(11) a member to represent the interests of the Criminal Justice Training Council;
(12) a member to represent the interests of sportsmen and women; and
(13) a member to represent the interests of town health officers.
And the FINAL Conference Committee bill...
(Draft No. 1.1 – H.533) Page 2 of 7
5/5/2016 - BNH - 03:08 PM VT LEG #317670 v.1
(A) the Commissioner of Public Safety or designee;
(B) the Executive Director of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs or designee;
(C) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee;
(D) the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife or designee;
(E) a member appointed by the Governor to represent the interests of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns;
(F) two members appointed by the Governor to represent the interests of organizations dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals;
(G) a member appointed by the Governor to represent the interests of the Vermont Police Association;
(H) a member appointed by the Governor to represent the interests of dog breeders and associated groups;
(I) a member appointed by the Governor to represent the interests of veterinarians; and
(J) a member to represent the interests of the Criminal Justice Training Council.
The Committee of Conference REMOVED:
1) a member to represent the interests of humane officers working with companion animals;
2) a member to represent the interests of sportsmen and women;
3) TWO members to represent the interests of law enforcement;
4) a member to represent the interests of town health officers.
The Committee of Conference ADDED:
1) a member appointed by the Governor to represent the interests of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns;
In the original Senate amendment to H.512, there were a total of 16 board members, only 2 were “animal welfare” types.
That means the activists comprised only 12.5% of the total board.
In the final Conference Committee bill, there were a total of 11 board members, 3 of which were “animal welfare” and “anti-gun/anti-hunting” types.
That means the activists now comprise a whopping 27.3% of the total board!
The anti-hunting groups just got their power MORE THAN DOUBLED in the final bill!
Sportsmen now have ZERO say,
Humane Officers has ZERO say,
Law Enforcement has 66% less say,
and Town Health Officers have ZERO say!
But the anti-hunting groups have MORE power!
Source #1 |
“I need to be convinced that Vermont needs a background check. I doubt it’s necessary”
Source #2 |
“If I want to give a neighbor my gun, and I’m not hunting anymore, I shouldn’t have to go to a gun shop in order to do a background check on my neighbor, who I’ve known for 30 years. And if I give my gun to some felon, that’s my own fault, and I can already be held accountable for that under various laws in civil court”
Source #3 |
Article showing the hypocrisy of Vermont politicians and the NRA that gives high rating to anti-gun politicians.
Source #4 |
On H.735:
Sen. Alice Nitka, D-Windsor, asked whether Burlington police have ever seen a case where a judge said not to take guns from someone because police had no storage.
"No, we'll annex the building before we do that," [chief] Schirling said.
That prompted Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, to ask: "Do we actually have a problem?"
"Yes," Sears responded. "If we don't pass this, we have a problem."
Source #5 |
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Last Updated: 11/02/2020 |
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